The Lens: K-pop idol Seunghan’s private life sparks debate on industry expectations

K-pop has always been an intense industry, and idols are expected to conform to unrealistic expectations.

Hong Seunghan of Riize was recently ousted from his group for leaked photos showing him smoking and kissing a girl in bed.

In my opinion, the backlash against Seunghan was unjustified because K-pop idols are still people with lives beyond their careers. Seunghan was doing these activities in private without the knowledge that they would be leaked to the public.

It is unjust that the reckless actions of the person who leaked the photos must be reflected on Seunghan and his group.

This controversy juxtaposes the culture of the K-pop industry versus the international stage. For one, it is clear that the K-pop industry expects a lot from their idols. They are seen as role models and expected to uphold social values.

Even the slightest mistakes are jumped upon and brought to light. While the international stage is more understanding and accepting, K-pop culture tends to be less forgiving.

An appropriate response from Seunghan would have been apologising for violating a social construct. This would be meaningful because his actions also affect people other than him, like the other members of Riize. Hence, Seunghan should be accountable for protecting his group and public image.

However, fans should also be more forgiving. What Seunghan does in private is not any of his fans’ business. It is Seunghan’s right to do whatever he desires away from the public lens.

Fans tend to fall in love with the concept of idols being perfect and having traits they want to embody, not the idols themselves. I believe fans should accept that they have lives outside the public sphere and be more understanding.

Read up on the issue here

Malaysia’s armed forces will look into fresh allegations of bullying after a hot iron was pressed on the chest of a student at a military university. This comes months after courts handed the death penalty to six former students over the killing of a fellow cadet at the institution.

The Malaysian National Defence University (UPNM) gained infamy in 2017 over the death of 21-year-old Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain. Six of his coursemates took turns pressing a steam iron on his body, including his genitals.

In the latest case, another student at the university was allegedly tortured by a senior pupil. The senior pressed an iron on the victim’s chest until it left burn marks, according to the armed forces, without saying when the incident took place.

The fresh bullying claims triggered outrage among Malaysians, many of whom questioned the ongoing dangers to students at the university. “This is not ragging; it is already maximum bullying and torture. People like this cannot be let off,” read a comment on Facebook by one Shawal Ali. Others suggested that the government shut down UPNM, accusing the university’s top management of failing to keep students in line.

In July, the Court of Appeal ruled that the death penalty was an appropriate punishment for the six students responsible for Zulkarnain’s death.

Bullying is a recurring issue at institutions linked to the armed forces. Last year, five Air Force trainees complained of being beaten up, including one case where pictures of several senior officers acting aggressively towards one victim went viral.

There have also been widespread claims of sexual harassment, racial discrimination and bullying in past incarnations of the National Service programme that the government intends to reinstate starting next year.

Staff writers

• What are some potential repercussions of the bullying incidents at UPNM? How could this affect the university and student body going forward?

• What changes can the UPNM make to promote a safer student environment?